A1 - Audit Reports Flashcards
What are PCAOB standards?
Public Accounting Auditing Oversight Board Auditing Standards = provide general guidance for audits of Public Companies, and it is the most authoritative guidance for an issuer.
What are ASB standards?
Accounting Standards Board = provide general guidance for audits of Non-Public Companies, and it is the most authoritative guidance for a non-issuer.
What are items that require the auditor’s attention an understanding?
When the PCAOB says that you “may”, “might”, or “could” perform a specific procedure. Auditor must exercise professional judgement in the circumstances.
What are the 3 levels of audit guidance and what is their order of hierarchy?
- SAS and PCAOB = Most authoritative.
- Interpretive Publications = Not so authoritative.
- Other Auditing Publications = Least authoritative.
What is the specific language used within the stantards to classify an auditor’s level of responsibility?
- “Must” or “is required” = indicates an unconditional requirement, which must be followed always if relevant.
- “Should” = indicates a presumptively mandatory requirement, which must followed if relevant, except when departure is permitted. Departure must be allowed and justified.
- “May”, “might”, or “could” = indicates explanatory material and does not impose a professional requirement for performance.
What is GAAS?
Generally Accepted Auditing Standards = Measures the quality of the auditor’s performance, and guide the auditor in the performance of a propertly planned and executed audit.
What is professional skepticism?
Having a “Questioning Mind”, and a “Critical Assessment” of audit evidence.
What are the basic ethical characteristics and professional qualities?
- Objectivity.
- Independence.
- Integrity.
- Impartiality.
What are the auditors responsibilities?
- Expressing an opinion on FS based on the audit.
- Maintaining professional skepticism.
- Excersing professional judgement through planning and performance of audit.
- Complying with relevant ethical requirements.
- Complying with GAAS.
- Obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence.
What is reasonable assurance?
A high, but not absolute, level of assurance to allow an auditor to detect a material misstatement.
How do you obtain reasonable assurance?
You must:
- Plan the work and properly supervise assistants.
- Identify and assess risks of material misstatement whether due to fraud or error.
- Determine and apply appropriate materiality levels.
- Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence.
What happens when an auditor is required to comply with auditing standards in addition to GAAS?
An additional statement would be added to the Basis for Opinion paragraph stating which sets of standards were applied.
What is the term that identifies a requirement for audit evidence?
Appropriate.
What should an auditor that is exercising Professional Skepticism do?
- Most appropriately consider the reliability of information to be used as audit .
- Should critically assess audit evidence rather than adopting an initial attitude of acceptance.
- May accept records and documents as genuine unless the auditor has reason to believe the contrary.
What should the auditor evaluate when forming an opinion?
- The FS disclose significant accounting policies (SAP).
- SAP applied are consistent with framework.
- Accounting estimates by management are reasonable.
- Info presented is relevant, reliable, comparable, and understandable (RERECU).
- FS has disclosure to explain material items.
- Terminology (wording) is appropriate.
- Structure and content is fairly presented.
- FS represent underlying transactions fairly.
When should an auditor modify the auditor’s opinion (report)?
When there is an FS issue or an Audit issue.
What is an FS issue?
When the auditor concludes that FS AS A WHOLE are materially misstated.
Auditors may use an unmodified/unqualified, qualified, or adverse opinion.
What is an Audit issue?
When the auditor is unable to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence to conclude that FS are free from material misstatement.
Auditors may use an unmodified/unqualified, qualified, or disclaimer of opinion.
What are the types of modified opinions?
- Qualified Opinion.
- Adverse Opinion.
- Disclaimer of Opinion.
What is a Qualified Opinion?
A Qualified Opinion states that, except for the matter to which the qualification related, the FS are presented fairly per the financial framework.
Everything is good except for one thing.
What is an Adverse Opinion?
An Adverse Opinion states that the FS are not presented fairly per the financial framework.
Everything is wrong.
What is a Disclaimer of Opinion?
A Disclaimer of Opinion states that the auditor has no opinion on FS.
No comment.
What does the auditor use as a reference to guide themselves on how to conduct the audit?
GAAS.
What does the auditor use as a reference to review transactions?
GAAP.